PITTSBURGH PRIDEFEST 2017 DANCE SHOWCASE

Year nine of Pittsburgh PrideFest’s annual free dance showcase, curated by Richard Parsakian, sees an expansion to two days of stylistically diverse performances by local dance artists. It takes place June 10 and 11 on two Downtown stages along Liberty Avenue, at Sixth and 10th streets.

Here’s a look at each day’s offerings (subject to change):

Sat., June 10 (Noon-5 p.m.)

STAYCEE PEARL dance project presents excerpts from its house-music/club-scene-inspired work, FLOWERZ. Then get ready for The Pillow Projects’ “Fast and Loose,” a jazzed stylization of early Quentin Tarantino movies crossed with a Cowboy Bebop anime flair danced to music by Japanese space jazz band The Seatbelts. And dancer/choreographer Moriah Ella Mason previews her upcoming one-woman show in an excerpt from Sex Werque, about her experiences working in the sex industry.

Recently resurfacing after a 20-year hiatus, Nick M. Daniel’s DANA Movement Ensemble2.0 presents “As I Fly,” an excerpt from its current work-in-progress, Take my Hand ... I am here, inspired by the ascension to heaven. Rounding out Saturday’s showcase is The Blanket, presenting three works including choreographer Lindsay Fisher’s duet “View From Inside” (2017), Rubén Graciani’s “Why Then Should I Be Afraid” (2014), and a new solo by John DeNeff and Matt Pardo and performed by DeNeff.

Sun., June 11 (1–5 p.m.)

Texture Contemporary Ballet returns for another year with several music-inspired ballets from its repertory, including excerpts from associate artistic director Kelsey Bartman’s “Full Circle” (2016), a ballet for six dancers set to music by Half Moon Run, and 2014’s “Fun.” Also being performed are two excerpts from Bartman and artistic director Alan Obuzor’s 2016 Adele-scored ballet, “Laurie Blue.” Then, using songs from its recently released MISC Records album “body,” slowdanger will perform“body, my body,” a trio exploring the corporeal nature of being.

Trevor C. Dance Collective will show excerpts from its most recent version of BRAVE, a piece confronting systemic racism and championing LGBTQIA+ rights. Also celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and its performers will be LaMar Williams Jr.’s vogue dance ensemble kNOwSHADE’smulti-part dance presentation that will begin with a dance flash mob. Also in Sunday’s showcase will be works by former Diavolo dancer Weylin Gomez and Attack Theatre’s Anthony Williams.